Boot-tree or last



July 3.1,I 192s. n 1,679,016

' W. S. ASHTON BOOT TREE OR LST Filed Feb. 1'7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 attenua@ July 31, 1928.

W. S. ASHTON BOOT TREE OR LAST Filed Feb. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES vParleur oFFice. g

WILLIAM s. ASHTON, oF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, Assreivon` To Hoon RUBBER COMPANY, OF-WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, A

SETTS.

CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- BOOT-TBEE yOIR. LAST.

Application filed February 17, 1927. Seria1'No.'168,984.

My said invention relates to improvements in boot trees or lasts of the type used for manufacturing rubber' Vboots and the like. These are customarily made of metal having a separable toe piece to facilitate removal of the last from the completed boot, theleg and toe portions having abutting faces which lie in intersecting planes, one of which is disposed substantially lengthwise of the last and the other substantially perpendicular thereto, forming a substantially L shaped joint. v

The invention aims to provide such a tree or last of exceedingly simple and durable construction in which the toe section is secured to the leg Section by a connection permitting a limited sliding movement relative thereto when removal is desired, but preventing tot-al disconnection whereby the toe seetion withdrawn with the leg section.

The invention further aims to provide Aa connection between the parts which will permit a pivotal movement of the toe section relative to the leg section to facilitate removal,

The invention further aims to provide simple and efficient means for holding the parts with their abutting faces pressed into intimate contact which means may be automatically disengaged by a pull upon the leg section and as readily engaged by reverse movement.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference is made to the r accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of what I at present consider the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower part being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the position assumed when being withn kvide spring dra-wn from a boot.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the last.

Referring by reference characters to this drawingthe numeral 1 designates the main or leg section of the tree or last and 2 the toe section, these having abutting faces disposed in intersecting planes indicated at and B, the former as is customary being arranged substantially lengthwise of the leg portion and the latter being substantially perpendicular thereto or transverse to the` sole disposed parallel to the face 2@L -which passes a cross member orpin leg section, and the sections being made of hollow aluminum lightness. f

To effect a limited sliding connection between the parts I provide one of them, Say the toe section 2 with a slotted guide (3) which projects into a guide way in the abutting face of the other part. In the embodiment shown the guide way is formed by merely providing a slot in the face la of the leg portion (as by cutting).

Ilhe guide 3 preferably comprises a pair of parallel steel plates 8 riveted to a flange formation 2C on the face 2a of thetoe section, which plates are preferably connected at the top by inafter described. i

The guide way is continued through the portion or bottom of` the last-and said bottom is provided with slots to receive the projecting portions of the plates 3. Said plates 3 are provided with elongated slots 3b through 4 which rigidly carried by the leg section near the lower end thereofv and parallel to the face la. By reason of this pin and slot connection the toe section iscapable of being moved down from the position shown in Fig. l to the limit determined by the closed upper endsy of the slots, which movement takes place when the leg section is pulled out of the completed boot. v v

To permit the toe tip to rock or incline downwardly when the pin reaches the upper of the slots the rear edges of the plates 3 are provided with cut 4away portions or notches 3c and the upper ends of the slots are enlarged rearwardly as indicated at 3d.

To hold the parts in closed position I prodetent means which` preferably takes the form of a leaf spring 5 having one end riveted or otherwise secured to the cross member 3a from which it inclines downwardly and forwardly to a point where it is provided with a bend 5a and a rearwardly deflected end 5b. Said spring cooperates with a cross'member or pin 6 rigidly carried by the leg portion of the last just above plane B, and reference to Fig. l will clearly show how, with the parts in this position, the toe section will be held firmlyin place across member 3a (preferably integral) to carry the retaining spring 5 herepreferably castings for by the pressure of the spring on the pin reacting on the upper end ot guide 3. Pull upon the boot section, however, will cause the spring to yield and pin 6 to ride over the rounded portion or nose 5L of the spring, and the reverse action will take place on closing of the last.

l claim:

l. A boot tree or last comprising a leg section and a toe section having 'faces abut# ting along intersecting planes, interengaging means effecting a limited sliding connection between said parts along one of said intersecting planes, including means for permitting the toe section to have a swinging movement about an axis parallel to said intersecting planes at the extremity of its sliding movement in one direction.

2. A boot tree or last comprising a leg section and a toe section having faces abutting along intersecting planes, one ot which is disposed substantially lengthwise of the tree, a slotted guide carried by one of said sections and projecting from the lengthwise face thereof, the abutting face of the other section having a guide way to receive said guide, and a transverse pin passing through -said slotted guide, the slot in said slotted guide having the major part thereof parallel to said lengthwise face and the remainder offset therefrom.

3. A boot tree or last comprising a leg section and a toe section having faces abutting along intersecting planes, interengaging means effecting a limited sliding connection between saidrparts along'one of said intersecting planes, including means 'for permitting the toe section to have a swinging movement about an axis parallel to said intersecting planes, and means for releasably holding the abutting faces of the leg and toe sections in intimate contact.

4f. A boot tree or last comprising leg and toesections having faces abutting along intersecting planes which are substantially lengthwise and tansverse to the leg section respectively, a slotted guide projecting trom the lengthwise 'face of the toe section, the lengthwise tace ot the leg section having aJ guide way receiving said slotted guide, a

cross member carried by said leg section near its lower end and engaging said slotted guide, said slotted guide being eXteriorly recessed adjacent its upper end.

5. A boot Vtree or last comprising leg and toe sections having faces abutting along intersecting planes which are substantially lengthwise and transverse to the leg section respectively, a slotted guide projecting from the lengthwise tace or the toe section, the lengthwise tace of the leg section having a guide way receiving said slotted guide, a cross member carried by leg` section near its lower end and ene"1 ging said slotted guide, the guide slot or u slotted guide being, at the upper end, extended laterally towards the rear of the last.

6. fr boot tree or last comprising'a leg section and a toe section having Jraces` abutting along intersecting planes which are substantially lengthwise and transverse to the last respectively, a slojttedguide carried bv the lengthwise face oit the toe section and comprising a pair of spaced parallel slotted plates, the lengthwise` face of the leg section having a guide way to receive said guide plates, a cross member carried by the leg section adjacent its lower end and passing through the slots in said plates, said guide plates extending above the transverse face of the toe section, a leaf spring carried by the extended portion of said guide plates `and having reversely inclined portions, and

an abutment carried by the leg section for cooperating with said spring.

ln testimony whereof, l aiHX my signature.

VILLIAM S. ASHTON. 

